Thursday, 7 October 2010

With friends like these: General Musharraf confesses to supporting insurgency in India

During the hey days of his regime in Pakistan Musharraf was respected as a master media manipulator, especially when it came to dealing with the western media, and when promoting the case for Pakistan and for his military rule. Has the master having lost the confidence that comes with wearing a uniform lost his touch. At least it is evident from the recent interview that he gave to Susanne Koelbl of German Der Spiegel. Musharraf wittingly or unwittingly gave India the smoking gun it has always been looking for - confession of a Pakistan ex-ruler confessing on camera that his government has been involved in directly supporting armed insurgency in India.

SPIEGEL: Why did you form militant underground groups to fight India in Kashmir?

Musharraf: They were indeed formed. The government turned a blind eye because they wanted India to discuss Kashmir.

SPIEGEL: It was the Pakistani security forces that trained them.

Musharraf: The West was ignoring the resolution of the Kashmir issue, which is the core issue of Pakistan. We expected the West -- especially the United States and important countries like Germany -- to resolve the Kashmir issue. Has Germany done that?

SPIEGEL: Does that give Pakistan the right to train underground fighters?

Musharraf: Yes, it is the right of any country to promote its own interests when India is not prepared to discuss Kashmir at the United Nations and is not prepared to resolve the dispute in a peaceful manner.

Welcome to life of politics General Musharraf! You have now followed into the footsteps of Benazir Bhutto and those before her who when out of power try to find legitimacy for their attempts to return to power by taking a stance against the interests of the state they long to rule.